Yesterday, 7 April 2004, 18 America's Cup Teams concluded a three-day session of organisational meetings in Valencia, Spain with a clear vision of how the 32nd America's Cup would proceed.

Michel BONNEFOUS, the CEO of AC Management, the organiser of the 32nd America's Cup, closed the three-day workshop of meetings with the observation that America's Cup racing would begin on the 5th September, 2004.

"The exciting milestone today is that we are now less than five months away from the Marseille Louis Vuitton Act 1 of the 32nd America's Cup. It is tremendous to think that there will be America's Cup racing in such a short time," Bonnefous said.

For the past three days, AC Management has been in discussions with 18 America's Cup Teams, representing nine countries, about a variety of topics relating to the sport, marketing, and logistical aspects of the 32nd America's Cup.

"We wanted to take this opportunity to give the Teams preparing for the 32nd America's Cup an update on the progress achieved so far, and an overview on what the 32nd America's Cup will look like," Bonnefous explained. "Of equal importance, we wanted to open a dialogue with the Teams, to listen to their input, and to collect feedback from them, our most important stakeholders."

Bonnefous was joined at the press conference by José SALINAS, the CEO of Valencia 2007, and Dyer JONES, the Regatta Director of the 32nd America's Cup, along with the Defender, Alinghi, and the two official Challengers, Oracle BMW Racing and the Clan Des Team.

Salinas explained the massive transformation scheduled for the Port of Valencia, in order to prepare for the America's Cup. Work will begin shortly, and the Port will be ready to accommodate Teams as of the Valencia Louis Vuitton Acts in October. Team bases will be available for occupation from Spring 2005.

"All of the services related to relocation, immigration, work permits, taxes, etc. have been outlined and detailed to the Teams present," Salinas said. "Valencia 2007 and ACM will continue working hand in hand to develop the best possible infrastructure for the 32nd America's Cup."

Regatta Director Dyer JONES spoke about the sports programme for 2004 and beyond, and gave details about the Meteorological Data System (MDS) a shared weather data system that will make the weather over a small portion of the Mediterranean Sea the most analysed 'microclimate' in the world.

"The MDS programme is a tremendous step forward for the Teams, and will result in really significant cost savings for them. In the past, many teams would each spend well over EUR$1.5-million to obtain essentially the same data," Jones explained. "We will soon begin the process of gathering and then distributing to the participants meteorological data so that over the coming months and years each team will have a huge amount of analytical data from which to make decisions regarding the designs of their boats and the conditions under which they will be sailing."

This consolidated weather data programme was just one of many initiatives discussed at the Teams meetings this week at the Palacio de Congresos in Valencia.

"On behalf of ACM, I would like to publicly thank all of the Teams along with our partners, Louis Vuitton and Endesa, for their energy, their input and their enthusiasm for what we are trying to accomplish," Bonnefous concluded. "We know that the 32nd America's Cup is a partnership that cannot succeed without them."

Tom Burton (AUS) and Alison Young (GBR) hit the right note in the Laser and Laser Radial at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne as they took out the top honours and qualification spots to the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final.

It was double Australian gold in the Paralympic classes. Matt Bugg (AUS) came out on top in the 2.4mR whilst London 2012 Paralympic SKUD18 gold medallists Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch (AUS) were triumphant in the two person keelboat.

Lithuania's Juozas Bernotas came out on top in the Men's RS:X whilst Russia's Stefania Elfutina was triumphant in the Women's RS:X. Both sailors claim the first Abu Dhabi ISAF Sailing World Cup Final spots whilst Jock Calvert (AUS) and Joanna Sterling (AUS) picked up the Oceanic spots for the Emirati finale.

There was some fast paced action in the 49er and 49erFX Medal Races at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne as Nathan Outteridge & Iain Jensen (AUS) and Maia & Ragna Agerup (NOR) claimed the honours and Abu Dhabi final spots.

A tight group of five young Papua New Guinean (PNG) Laser sailors are stepping up their 2015 Pacific Games competition program using this week's ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne. PNG is one of 33 countries represented at the important Oceanic event, the largest Olympic sailing regatta in the southern hemisphere.

Nicolai Sehested (DEN) and his TREFOR Match Racing Team clinched victory today at the Energa Sopot Match Race, Poland, the 10th stage and World Championship Event of the 2015 World Match Racing Tour (WMRT).

There was no stopping current, and five-time ISAF Match Racing World Champion Ian Williams (GBR), GAC Pindar today at the Energa Sopot Match Race as he swiftly dispatched his Quarter Final opponent Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) in three straight wins.

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) continues to address concerns and is taking steps to ensure the health and safety of all athletes who will be competing in the upcoming Aquece Rio, Olympic Test Event and the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition.

Veteran Polish match racer and America's Cup helmsman Karol Jablonski skilfully played the gusty conditions today to lead the twelve strong field of teams at the end of Day 2 of Qualifying at the 2015 Energa Sopot Match Race.